Are shared care schemes financially viable?

There is a wealth of evidence now that optometrists can be effective primary care clinicians, working independently or as part of managed clinical networks.

Acute eye management services such as the Primary Eyecare Acute Referral Scheme (PEARS) have been audited and show that accredited optometrists can effectively reduce the burden on over-worked ophthalmology departments.1,2,3 Glaucoma co-management schemes, likewise, have been found to be effective and were preferred by patients who valued the convenience.4,5,6

Regardless, Addie et al7 report that, while clinical and patient satisfaction standards were high, optometry services were found to be less cost effective. This seems to reflect a general view within our profession.